King & 3 Queens & Richmond
Date: 08/05/2024
Partner: Kristi Henes
Trailhead: Richmond Pass TH
Summits: Richmond Peak (UR) - King and 3 Queens (UR)
Distance: 8m
Elevation Gain: 4350ft
Duration: 6hrs
GPX
Richmond Peak 14ers.com Page
King and 3 Queens 14ers.com Page
The well maintained Richmond Trail to the pass is a calf burner. I often complain about too many switchbacks, but not this time. The views in the upper basin are well worth the hike. We skipped the class 3 ridge between South Hayden and King and 3 Queens (K3Q) due to my recently broken finger. It felt a bit odd to drop down and skip a ridge but it was fun none the less. The final pitch to King's summit is manky but worse than it looks in the pictures.
8m - 4350ft - 6hrs
The trail to Richmond Pass is well maintained albeit consistently steep.
Red Mountain across the way to the south
The upper basin really opens up. Richmond on the left - South Hayden on the right
South Hayden
From the top of Richmond Pass the views of Sneffels and the Yankee Boy peaks is impressive
Climbing to Richmond Peak's northeast ridge. King and 3 Queens in the distance
Northwestern views with United States Mountain in the foreground - Emma and Gilpin dominating views in the distance
Final pitch to Richmond Peak
Summitting Richmond with Yankee Boy peaks as a backdrop
Descending Richmond's northeast ridge. With my newly broken index finger we would skip South Hayden(L) and it's C3 ridge to King and 3 Queens( in the distance).
We opted to drop below South Hayden and gain it's west ridge after the class 3 section
Heading up to King and 3 Queens west ridge. Ascending our descent route off of K3Q might be easier going than this loose section we climbed.
Although this section of ridge was cool!
Looking back to the class 3 coming off South Hayden. If I were to traverse this section of ridge I think I would go from K3Q to South Hayden
It's good to be the King
Manky 2+ to the summit of King. It climbs easier than it looks but still manky
Southern views to South Hayden from the summit
The tedious down climb from the summit of King
Can't complain about the views though
Descending on the grass was smooth - we picked up the Full Moon Trail to the left of the prominent bump in the center
Hiking the Full Moon Trail back to the Richmond Trail. South Hayden behind
A final view of K3Q before hiking down the Richmond Trail to the truck